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News brief: Napavine shooter gets 15 years

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – A judge yesterday sentenced a Chehalis man to a little more than 15 years in prison for shooting a woman outside a Napavine apartment in early June.

2011.0606.javier.jimenez.villalavazo [1]

Javier Jimenez Villalavazo

Javier Jimenez Villalavazo, 23, reportedly called the 24-year-old and her family a snitch before firing several rounds at her as she got back inside a car. Eloisa Cruz-Garcia was struck twice in her right leg and survived.

Sheriff’s deputies said he went by the nickname “The Joker”.

Villalavazo initially pleaded not guilty to first-degree assault, but following a plea deal, he admitted in Lewis County Superior Court on Monday that he shot her, according to court documents.

Prosecutors dropped the firearms enhancement part of the charge which would have automatically tacked five years onto his prison time.

Villalavazo faced a standard sentencing range between 138 months and 184 months.

Judge Richard Brosey gave him 15 years and four months.

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Read related stories:

• “Motive: Alleged shooter thought Centralia woman “snitched”” from Thursday June 9, 2011, here [2]

• “News brief: Four booked as detectives seek suspected Napavine shooter” from Wednesday June 8, 2011 at 7:28 p.m., here [3]

• “News brief: Law enforcement searching for Napavine shooting suspect” from Monday June 6, 2011 at 3:39 p.m., here [4]